The moment Clay turned off the car, the startling sound of the car door opening sharply made Gavin flinch again.
“I’m—I—hi.” Nines stuttered, raising his hands weakly the moment he met Claire’s gaze. “It’s—my—I’m so sorry, what’s...?”
“O—ki, doki, Gavin.” Claire patted her cheek gently. “Please show signs of consciousness or we’ll have to lift Nines off the ground next.”
“Mom—oh my god.” Gavin stuttered nervously, as Clay and Claire laughed in response.
It certainly made the atmosphere lighter, and God only knew Nines and Gavin desperately needed that. Gavin sat up properly in the seat, getting out of the car carefully with Nines’ help. Clay exited the car and opened the door for Claire, who let Gavin have his own small moment with Nines to calm him down.  Â
“Are you really okay?” Nines asked quietly, as Gavin nodded weakly. “I can take you to the hospital if you need it, it’s like a ten-minute drive.”
“I’m okay.” Gavin whispered, raising his brows emphatically as he nodded. “I’m really okay, it’s not...I got sick and didn’t sleep and I think I just needed to sleep and I didn’t and I—”
“It’s okay—I know, I know...” Nines mumbled, glancing over Gavin’s shoulder to find Clay looking at him.
Like a snap of fingers in front of his face, Nines became aware of Claire’s presence – a reminder of what he needed to attend, and yet,
“Are we sure that...Gavin doesn’t need to go to the doctor?” Nines asked shyly, clearly unsure of his own words.
Hesitant to be ruining the first meeting with his mother-in-law, who he hadn’t even properly greeted.
“I think he should rest.” Claire responded sincerely. “I think he should go to bed and sleep in some more.”
“But you’re not going to be here for that long.” Gavin quickly let out, turning to his mother. “I want to hang out—I don’t want to sleep.”
“Maybe some medicine will be enough to perk you up.” Clay said. “Do you have a fever? A cold?”
Gavin’s poker face made the three of them frown in confusion.
“Gavin?” Claire raised a brow in confusion.
“I think I just need to sleep.” Gavin saved his dignity. “Definitely just a power nap.”
“Are you sure?” Nines whispered, only for Gavin to nod insistently. “Alright then...”
Nines turned to his gate, opening it quickly.
“Come on in, please...”
It was definitely not the first meeting they thought it would be, but in Claire’s opinion, it wasn’t bad at all.
They walked inside Nines’ house, and Claire instantly took many discreet glances at everything. She couldn’t help but be amazed by this young man’s home, the small garden, his car, the modern look of everything. It truly made her think a model lived there; she could recognize many brands on his electronics and even decorations. Claire couldn’t imagine having all of this in her early twenties, and for a moment, the realization that Nines was indeed just twenty-two made her turn to him with renewed interest. She stayed quiet, sitting where Nines offered her to take a seat. Clay and him exchanged a few quiet words before Nines turned to Gavin instead. Claire attentively observed the way her son looked when he talked to him, with an expression she had never seen before. Gavin looked shy but worried at the same time, glancing at his mother who looked away every time he did. While Nines only looked concerned and didn’t look anywhere else, as if he kept forgetting that Claire was right there.
Not a bad first impression.
“Okay, I’ll go lay down a bit...” Gavin said, as his mother nodded. “Just a bit though.”
“If you come downstairs in ten minutes, I’ll take you upstairs myself.” Claire said, as Gavin twisted his lips weakly. “Gavin.”
“Alright—okay, I’m sorry.” Gavin mumbled nervously, glancing at Nines. “I’m sorry.”
Nines quickly composed his face, just to offer a soft smile.
“Don’t be sorry, silly.” Nines chuckled gently. “We’ll be here, it’s fine.”
“Okay...” Gavin nodded, holding his fingers nervously. “I...okay—I think I should tell you though...”
“What is it?” Claire asked.
Gavin closed his eyes, trying to spare himself some dignity but knowing well deep down...it would backfire if he didn’t tell the truth.
“I actually have really bad diarrhea right now and I feel kind of dizzy so maybe—you know, yeah.”
It would backfire in all directions, in a concerning amount.
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